National hospital organizations, including the AHA, today urged congressional leaders to delay the start of the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts that are scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2020. “Congress recognized the critical nature of fully funding the Medicaid DSH program by delaying the start of the cuts for the past seven years,” the groups wrote. "We urge you to once again delay the start of the Medicaid DSH cuts given the vital need for this program.”
 
The Affordable Care Act reduced payments to the Medicaid DSH program under the assumption that uncompensated care costs would decrease as health care coverage increased. “Unfortunately, the coverage rates envisioned under the ACA have not been fully realized, and tens of millions of Americans remain uninsured,” the groups wrote. “In addition, Medicaid underpayment continues to pose ongoing financial challenges for hospitals treating our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.”
 
In addition to the AHA, America’s Essential Hospitals, the Association of American Medical Colleges, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Children’s Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, Premier healthcare alliance, and Vizient Inc. signed the letter.

Related News Articles

Chairperson's File
Public
The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act will bring big changes to health care. AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack joined me for a Leadership Dialogue…
Headline
The Congressional Budget Office today released its estimate of the budgetary effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as enacted. CBO projects the law will…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 17 issued two letters to states regarding policies on continuous eligibility and workforce initiatives.…
Headline
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., July 15 introduced legislation that would repeal some of the Medicaid funding reductions included in the recently enacted One Big…
Headline
The House July 3 voted 218-214 to pass the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which enacts many of President Trump’s legislative…
Headline
The American Society for Health Care Engineering July 1 announced 87 health care facilities as winners of the 2025 Energy to Care Sustainability Champions…